Red Oak

Red Oak, TX - The Hospital Corporation of America is planning to construct a 20,400-square foot emergency room on 2.1 acres of land on East Ovilla Road in Red Oak.

The facility, which had a zoning change approved by the Red Oak City Council last month, will include supplemental components such as an emergency room, women’s services, imaging and internal medicine. Development plans show that 78 parking spaces and eight disabled-access parking spaces will be constructed for the emergency room — 15 more than the city requirement.

HCA will purchase a portion of the 4.277 acres of land from its current owners, Soulman’s BBQ, and will be located alongside the restaurant when completed. Soulman’s BBQ purchased the property from the Red Oak Industrial Development Corporation in Nov. 2015.

Two non-speakers wrote to the city council during the public hearing for the zoning change. They were both in support of the emergency room’s construction.

“I own a mixed-use medical and dental across the street from this lot,” resident Alan Martin wrote. “I think an ER would be great.”

Fire Chief Eric Thompson said the emergency room would mostly benefit local residents since the facility will send ambulances out more often than bringing them in. Thompson said the city’s emergency services provider would be financially responsible for providing transportation.

“Typically, our ambulances won’t use this as a primary place for transport,” Thompson explained. “But for the general public, this is an option locally that they can go to for anything that potentially they might not need to stay the night for.”

Economic Development Director Lee McCleary said the project is currently undergoing the plotting and permitting process. Construction will begin as soon as the purchase between HCA and Soulman’s BBQ is completed.